Part of what makes cast iron skillets so versatile is that they can withstand the heat of an oven, which is why many people use them to bake cornbread.

Pro tip: Before you even put your skillet of cornbread batter into the oven, preheat the skillet. That way, when you pour the cornbread batter in, the batter will sizzle on the hot surface, which will lead to a delicious golden crust on your bread.

Roasted vegetables

No one likes soggy vegetables. If you make your veggies in a cast iron skillet, though, you won't have to worry about that. Because they're placed directly onto a very hot surface, the vegetables you cook in a cast iron skillet will develop that crunchy, golden brown exterior that most cooks dream of.

If you don't have a Pyrex dish for making lasagna, but you do have a cast iron skillet, you're in luck. Simply pile your skillet with layers of noodles, meat, veggies, and cheese, and then stick it in the oven.

You don't actually need a wok to make stir fry. A cast iron skillet can retain just as much heat as a wok, which makes it an ideal vessel for making stir fry.

A successful stir fry is crispy, and the only way you'll end up with rice, meat, and vegetables that are that texture is if you cook them in a pan that doesn't lose heat when you add food to it. A cast iron skillet won't.

Panini

Slather some butter on each side of your bread, and then press each side onto your skillet. If you're making a sandwich with cheese (and why wouldn't you?) you'll achieve melted perfection on the inside, and a satisfying crunch on the outside.

You can also grill the sandwich in a regular pan, and use your cast iron skillet to press down onto the panini.

As it turns out, cast iron skillets are just as effective at frying meat as they are at searing it. Skip the deep fryer, and try making fried chicken on the stove instead.

The iron will keep the oil hot enough even once you add your chicken, and that oil will serve as seasoning for your pan. The more seasoning on your cast iron skillet, the better the food you cook in it will taste.

S'mores

It's raining outside but you're craving s'mores. Fortunately, a cast iron skillet will work just as well as a campfire when it comes to roasting s'mores.

Place your graham cracker squares with chocolate and marshmallows into the pan and slide it under the broiler; you'll have melted goodness in no time.

While you can make many forms of eggs in a cast iron skillet — anything from frittatas to fried eggs — there is one caveat. Cooking eggs in a cast iron skillet will only work if you're good about maintaining a healthy coating of seasoning on it ( you shouldn't actually be washing your cast iron skillet).

Otherwise, you'll have a hard time getting those eggs from your pan onto your plate.

Crepes

Much like eggs, crepes (razor-thin pancakes that can be either sweet or savory) will only work in a cast iron skillet if it's very well seasoned.

Pizza

Looking to make yourself a personal pizza with a crunchy golden crust? Look no further than your cast iron skillet. Put the dough right into the pan, load up on your favorite toppings, and stick it right into the oven.